Description

The Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) presents validated and verified checklists (inventories) of introduced (alien) and invasive alien species at the country level. Phase 1 of the project has focused on developing validated and verified checklists (inventories) of countries that are Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. This annotated checklist (inventory) is of introduced (alien) and invasive alien species known to occur in Croatia.

Purpose

The resource will be a support to countries to make progress to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 -in the development of their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, their National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action Plan, target setting and monitoring.

Sampling Description

Study Extent

The geographic focus of this checklist is Croatia

Sampling

This annotated checklist is focused on introduced (alien) and invasive species that are known to occur in Croatia.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) describes an Introduced/ Alien and Invasive alien species as follows:
An Introduced/ Alien species means a species, subspecies, or lower taxon occurring outside of its natural range (past or present) and dispersal potential (i.e. outside the range it occupies naturally or could not occupy without direct or indirect introduction or care by humans) and includes any part, gametes or propagule of such species that might survive and subsequently reproduce.
An Invasive alien species means an alien species which becomes established in natural or semi-natural ecosystems or habitat, is an agent of change, and threatens native biological diversity.

Quality Control

The draft checklist (inventory) is compiled by collating data and information through a comprehensive literature overview. Additional steps implemented to control the quality of the data are described below.
Taxonomic harmonisation and normalisation using the GBIF taxonomic backbone
In order to harmonise all species names across countries, species lists are subjected to a normalisation process in which taxon rank and taxonomic status are identified and assigned. Spelling and other errors in assigning species authorship are also corrected.
Data validation
The checklist (inventory) compiler team completes a review and validates all the annotations especially those on provenance and ‘invasiveness’ status of the species based on evidence of impact.
Data verification
The checklist (inventory) is submitted to a network of country editors for a review of both accuracy of records, annotations and identification of any significant gaps in the data. Data verification is an iterative process and the activity is declared completed on agreement of all relevant country editors.